Solid shooting not enough as Bears fall in basketball tourney

The SUNY Potsdam men’s basketball team shot over 50 percent from the floor for the second time in two days, but for the second straight game it wasn’t enough in a 69-57 defeat against Brooklyn College Saturday in the consolation game of the PNC/Ramada Inn Classic at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Sophomore Curtis Pierce (Brooklyn, N.Y.) totaled 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Bears (2-6 overall), who committed 27 turnovers and shot just 2-of-14 from 3-point range.

Potsdam held Brooklyn (4-5) to just over 41 percent shooting in the contest, but the Bulldogs scored 33 points off turnovers and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds.

“We played much better defensively and beat them on the boards,” Potsdam coach Sherry Dobbs said. “Our effort was there and we contested shooters. Offensively, we didn’t shoot as well as we normally do from 3-point range and we need to handle pressure better.”

Following the tournament, freshman forward Rob Duquette was named to the All-Tournament team. The Peru, N.Y., native shot 75 percent from the floor in the two games, averaging 12.5 points and six rebounds. He had 12 points and nine rebounds on Saturday before fouling out in the closing minutes.

“Rob made a lot of good decisions with the ball,” Dobbs said. “We’ve been trying to get him to rebound more, and now with Curtis and (junior) Brad (Drysdale), we have three guys who are good rebounders for us.”

After taking a 12-10 advantage with 8:49 to play in the first half, the Bears hit a dry spell as the Bulldogs surged to a 23-12 lead. Potsdam committed five turnovers during the run, which finally ended at the 5:45 mark with a lay-up by Drysdale (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

The Bears shot 50 percent in the period but committed 17 turnovers, leading to 11 steals and 17 points for Brooklyn.

In the second, the Bulldogs maintained their lead, stretching it to 15 points and not allowing the Bears to get within seven. Drysdale grabbed seven of his team-high 11 rebounds in the second, and also tallied four blocks in the game.

The Bears return to the floor following the winter break on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at Hobart. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Geneva, N.Y.